Malaysia in standoff with 80-100 Philippine jihadists

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14, 2013 (AFP) — Malaysia’s government said Thursday that its security forces have surrounded dozens of suspected Philippine militants in a remote area with a history of incursions by armed Filipino Islamic groups.

About 80-100 gunmen had been cornered in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters.

He said security forces were negotiating with the men near the small coastal town of Lahad Datu.

“We know the situation is still under control. I confirm that no Malaysian citizens, to my knowledge, are being held hostage or for ransom,” Hishammuddin said.

“Security forces are still in control and negotiating with them, some of whom are armed.”

He declined to confirm that the gunmen were from the adjacent southern Philippines.

But asked whether Philippine authorities were involved in negotiations, Hishammuddin said: “Of course they will have to be involved in the operations.”

National police chief Ismail Omar had said in a statement late Wednesday that “the intrusion is a result of the problems in the southern Philippines”.

That was an apparent reference to Muslim militants and other lawlessness in the southern Philippines, which lies just across the Sulu Sea from Sabah.

Malaysia is predominantly Muslim.

Earlier Thursday Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying police were negotiating with the gunmen “to get the group to leave peacefully to prevent bloodshed”.

“We have surrounded the area and our police and armed forces have the ability to handle the matter,” he was quoted as saying.

The Star’s report added that a tight security ring including army and naval forces had been thrown around the “heavily armed” group.

2 thoughts on “Malaysia in standoff with 80-100 Philippine jihadists”

If you have any friends, relatives or associates who are Filipino, please tell them not emigrate to any Muslim country. They are usually young, and have no inkling of the recruiting done by Muslims. I’ve told my those I know and they have heeded my advice. Filipino’s wish to get out of their home country to get better jobs due to their low exchange rate and economic situation, but become prey to Muslims in countries like Egypt, Saudi, Malaysia, who recruit with friendship, better pay, better working conditions, other Filipino Muslims, threat and intimidation.

Yes. You as a Filipino can earn 75 cents an hour in Kuwait! Buy your own food and be on duty 20 hours a day. No way home, the agency who got you there will NOT help you out of abusive violent sexual problems. Go to North America. Think you can’t? Family class and you already have a relative there somewhere.